20080925848489A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Bell 206L-1 · Homer, AK · September 25, 2008

Date: September 25, 2008 · 15:55 local
Place: Homer, AK
Phase of flight: Climb
Operating rules: Rotorcraft external load (Part 133)
Operator: ENRL
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N305MH
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC08LA127
Reported as: Bell 206L1
Reported engine: ALLISO 250*
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 20,000 total7,000 in this make and model90 in the last 90 days

N305MHRegistration cancelled Nov 4, 2008 · Bell Helicopter Textron 206L-1S/N 45386 · Built 1980 Airframe modelBell Helicopter Textron 206L-1 Engine modelAllison 250 SER 250HPTurbo-shaft

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23)The helicopter lifted off from the landing area, to allow for ground personnel to attach a long line load. When the load was attached the pilot proceeded to climb the aircraft, where the main rotor came into contact with power lines above the landing area. Following the main rotor contact with the power lines the aircraft entered a complete roll, touching down on the skids at approximately a level attitude at a high rate of descent.

As the FAA filed it

(-23)THE HELICOPTER LIFTED OFF FROM THE LANDING AREA, TO ALLOW FOR GROUND PERSONNEL TO ATTACH A LONG LINE LOAD. WHEN THE LOAD WAS ATTACHED THE PILOT PROCEEDED TO CLIMB THE AIRCRAFT, WHERE THE MAIN ROTOR CAME INTO CONTACT WITH POWER LINES ABOVE THE LANDING AREA. FOLLOWING THE MAIN ROTOR CONTACT WITH THE POWER LINES THE AIRCRAFT ENTERED A COMPLETE ROLL, TOUCHING DOWN ON THE SKIDS AT APPROXIMATELY A LEVEL ATTITUDE AT A HIGH RATE OF DESCENT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC08LA127Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportHomer, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an external load lift. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of situational awareness.Sep 26, 2008 · Substantial damage